Field Conservation at the Zoos

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Those of us in the Field Conservation Department might spend a lot of our time out in the wilds, but we’ve been working on developing our presence at the zoos, too! Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo are ideal places for us to connect with large numbers of conservation-minded folk and help support the zoos’ conservation mission during visits and beyond.

About a dozen colorful origami worms, snails, and tadpoles with attached googly eyes sit on a black tablecloth.
A variety of worms, snails, and tadpoles made by guests at our Field Season Kickoff Event at Stone Zoo! All of these animals are prime food sources for baby turtles.

Have you been to one of our annual Field Season Kickoff parties? We take over a tent at Stone Zoo, offer a peek at what’s ahead for our field season, and have free food and activities as well as more opportunities to get directly involved with volunteering for us. More than this once-a-year party, though, we’re hoping to develop a presence and some activities that let us connect with guests year-round.

A man in a green coat with blue Zoo New England hat shows an interested family some information about ZNE's conservation efforts with handouts, pop-up displays, and a stuffed turtle.

Above is Conservation Outreach Coordinator Matthew Kamm talking to visitors during Franklin Park Zoo’s Party for the Planet – our annual Earth Day celebration. We also developed new activities and handouts for school vacation week at Stone Zoo, teaching kids and adults all about the amazing native bees, butterflies, and other pollinator insects we work hard to support. The zoos’ wildly popular annual lantern shows, Boston Lights at FPZ and ZooLights at Stone Zoo, have also started to include conservation information about what guests can do to support the amazing animals and ecosystems displayed by the beautiful Tianyu lanterns.

A vibrant wetland made of Tianyu's glowing lanterns with green lily pads, purple lotus flowers, a dazzling dragonfly, and a white and black crane photographed at night at Franklin Park Zoo
Wetland habitats make beautiful lantern scenes, and Zoo New England’s Field Conservation Team is working to protect and enhance real wetland habitat all over Massachusetts and around the world.

What’s your favorite Zoo New England event? Zootopia? Boo at the Zoo? The lantern events? Look for the Field Conservation Team there to share the latest in conservation and deliver some cool knowledge about our amazing local ecosystems.